Deal possible in Kennebunk prostitution case

KENNEBUNK — Days before a trial is expected to begin for Mark Strong, the first defendant charged in the Kennebunk prostitution investigation, his attorney says a plea deal may be in the works.

Comment

By Jennifer Feals

seacoastonline.com

By Jennifer Feals

Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 8:11 AM
Updated Jan 17, 2013 at 8:13 AM

By Jennifer Feals

Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 8:11 AM
Updated Jan 17, 2013 at 8:13 AM

» Social News

KENNEBUNK — Days before a trial is expected to begin for Mark Strong, the first defendant charged in the Kennebunk prostitution investigation, his attorney says a plea deal may be in the works.

Daniel Lilley, representing Strong, 57, of Thomaston, confirmed Wednesday that a conference with prosecutors is scheduled for Friday, where a settlement may be discussed.

Strong is facing 59 misdemeanor charges including promotion of prostitution and invasion of privacy. Prosecutors say he conspired with Alexis Wright, 30, of Wells, to run a prostitution operation out of her Kennebunk business locations for more than a year-and-a-half. Wright is facing 106 counts including prostitution, invasion of privacy and tax-related offenses, three of which are felonies. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Lilley says his client wants a deal where he avoids jail time. Lilley was unable to be reached for further comment Thursday as a woman in his office said he was in deposition for the day.

Deputy District Attorney Justina McGettigan sent a letter offering to meet for a settlement conference.

Friday's hearing was scheduled after Lilley on Tuesday told a judge that he intends to withdraw from the case because Strong cannot pay him. In a court hearing Tuesday before Justice Nancy Mills in Cumberland County Superior Court, Lilley requested to postpone Strong's trial and to change the trial's venue. Mills denied both requests.

Lilley cited a lack of resources and says he is unable to mount an adequate defense against the state, who he says have “unlimited” resources.

Lilley said the state has used "a vast amount of resources" to try the case — including prosecutors from the District Attorney and Attorney General's offices, state and local police, computer and forensic experts and others.

"That's a big behemoth for my client to defend against, but he has no choice," Lilley said. "The problem is he has no money to pay for the kind of things he needs to do this properly. We find ourselves in an impossible situation to defend this case adequately."

Earlier in the case, Lilley filed a motion requesting a speedy trial on behalf of his client. Lilley has previously indicated he wanted Strong's trial to move forward as quickly as possible and said that the cases should be separated because Wright's attorney Sarah Churchill indicated pre-trial motions challenging evidence, which would delay her case.

Despite protest from prosecutors who said the cases should be tried together, Mills granted a request separating the cases.

Lilley has also made a number of attempts to have the case against Strong dismissed, most recently in December when he argued that he hadn't been able to open pieces of discovery provided by prosecutors, was still missing pieces, and was still receiving new information. All attempts were dismissed by a judge.